Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2018 USD ($) employees segments	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2018 USD ($) employees segments	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Less: Intercompany revenues	$ 41,000,000	$ 27,000,000	$ 81,000,000	$ 42,000,000
Costs of products sold	1,987,000,000	1,776,000,000	3,519,000,000	3,146,000,000
Net loss attributable to Navistar International Corporation	$ 55,000,000	(80,000,000)	$ (18,000,000)	(142,000,000)
Number Of Segments | segments	4		4
Goodwill	$ 38,000,000		$ 38,000,000		$ 38,000,000
Sales of manufactured products, net	2,382,000,000	2,063,000,000	4,249,000,000	3,692,000,000
Interest expense	79,000,000	89,000,000	158,000,000	171,000,000
Capital expenditures	23,000,000	20,000,000	53,000,000	66,000,000
Proceeds from finance lease obligations			38,000,000	16,000,000
Product Warranty Accrual, Preexisting, Increase (Decrease)			$ 0	(10,000,000)
Document Type			10-Q
Costs and Expenses, Related Party	8,000,000	2,000,000	$ 19,000,000
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties	14,000,000		14,000,000		13,000,000
Accounts Payable, Related Parties	$ 22,000,000		$ 22,000,000		5,000,000
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Number Of Employees Hourly Workers [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration Risk Number Of Employees | employees	7,400		7,400
concentration risk number of employees percentage	99.00%		99.00%
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Number of Employees Salaried Workers [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration Risk Number Of Employees | employees	700		700
concentration risk number of employees percentage	13.00%		13.00%
North America Truck [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ 0	0	$ 0	0
Capital expenditures	30,000,000	14,000,000	55,000,000	57,000,000
Extended Warranty Programs [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue, Revenue Recognized	27,000,000	$ 47,000,000	56,000,000	$ 81,000,000
Deferred Revenue	$ 250,000,000		$ 250,000,000		$ 271,000,000